Monday, 18 March 2013

Kano State has been thrown into pandemonium as a bomb just went off at New Road, Sabon Gari area of the city.
A witness told PREMIUM TIMES that the bomb exploded at the hub of a
commercial Luxury Bus park usually filled with commuters going from Kano
to the South.
Another witness said an Improvised Explosive Device, IED, was planted near the park causing one of the buses to go up in flames.
A recent report showed that four dead bodies have been brought in to
the accident and emergency ward of Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital
and many men, women and children wounded.
Recent report claims that over 60 passengers were killed while dozens got injured following the explosion.
Several other casualties have also been evacuated to other hospitals across the town for emergency treatment.
The blast affected both passengers in the bus that was about to exit the park and many others within the vicinity of the park.
The blast caused a stampede with many people getting hurt and cars crashing.
Details are still sketchy with some sources saying the explosion
emanated from a car parked beside the bus while others claim it was from
within the bus.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Police in Kano, Magaji
Majiya, confirmed the incident. He however, said he has not gotten the
full details.
The area has now been cordoned off by soldiers and police officers.
At the moment, no one can confirm the status of casualties in this
attack as effort to contact the police or JTF was not successful as at
the time of compiling this report, however residents say the area was
combed by JTF.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but Boko Haram, which
has frequently attacked the city, was a prime suspect. A spokesman for
security forces in Kano state, Ikedehia Iwehia, said dead and wounded
were being evacuated.
The sect often targets Christians.
“I ran for my dear life and managed to get out of the park after the
second blast. Many people are lying dead. See, my clothes are covered in
blood,” said witness Ibrahim Bello, holding up a blood-soaked shirt.
A reporter who was at the scene counted 25 bodies. However, Channels
TV reports that 60 people were killed and dozens were injured.

A member of Igbo traditional council in Kano, Tobias Idika, who
confirmed the explosion to Channels TV said there were over 200 people
in the bus.
“IED was kept inside the luxurious bus which was about to leave Kano
to Lagos, people were frying like chicken here and you know there are
over two hundred people in this bus when the two IEDs exploded,” he was
quoted as saying.
The area has now been cordoned off by Military and Policemen. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

Cool FM On Air Personality, Oladotun Ojuolape Kayode yesterday
proposed to his girlfriend Taiwo Oyebanjo in South Africa. Of course you
know what she’d say.
And yes, it’s what you think, or probably know already; Taiwo is D’banj’s younger sister.
Congratulations to them. I can’t wait to hear the wedding bells ringing…or is it ringing already?

One
Night President Obama and his wife Michelle decided to do something out
of routine and go for a casual dinner at a restaurant that wasn't too
luxurious. When they were seated, the owner of the restaurant asked the
President's secret service if he could please speak to the First Lady in
private.

They obliged and Michelle had a conversation with the owner. Following this conversation President Obama asked Michelle, “Why was he so interested in talking to you.?” , President Obama curiously asked his wife.

She informed the Husband that in her teenage years, the man had been madly in love with her.

President Obama then said, “So if you had married him, you would now be the owner of this lovely restaurant?”

Michelle responded, “No. If I had married him, he would now be the President.”

Dear fan, believe it or not, sometimes its a woman that makes a man who he is..

1] For the Men that are still searching for a wife, As you *SHARE*
& *LIKE* the is Post, May God help you to find that help mate that
will turn you from " A Nobody" to "A Somebody"

2] For that
Single Lady that is reading this, As you *SHARE* & *LIKE* the is
Post, May you be that blessing no man can do without.

3] For
those that are already married, As you *SHARE* & *LIKE* the is Post,
May God Turn the lack in your Relationship to Abundance.

LET Someone special, Type 'AMEN' to claim this Blessing.

A student leader said that three university students set fire to
themselves on the campus of Senegal’s largest university to protest
changes in the way credits are being counted in the college’s geography
department.

Seydou Niang, who organised a weeklong hunger strike,
said that three of his classmates doused themselves in gasoline and set
themselves alight on Friday. Niang spoke on the telephone from the
hospital, where he had accompanied the three. He said all three had
survived, but one had suffered severe burns and was in intensive care.

The
University of Cheikh Anta Diop was once one of the most prestigious
universities in West Africa. It has fallen into disrepair and the campus
is frequently immobilised both by student protests and strikes by the
low-paid professors.

Eight-year-old Mohammad has had three life-saving operations so far.
He needs a surgery every nine months — just to allow his body to grow
normally.
The first thing you notice when walking into the hospital room is
Mohammad’s cheeky grin and huge brown eyes. From the first glance you
can tell he is anything but shy.
Deeply involved in the cartoon playing in front of him, Mohammad’s
eyes light up when he sees potentially new friends walk through the
door. He couldn’t say much but every time he was asked a question, his
eyes got bigger and his smile wider. His father and mother were standing
by his bedside, unwavering — a concerned but relieved expression on
their faces.
“He’s a very cheeky boy,” his father said. “He has a very technical
mind. He knows how to work my phone better than me. As a person, he is
extremely loving.”
From birth, Mohammad Abdur Rahman has lived with a spinal deformity
that restricts the growth of his lungs. If left untreated, his condition
could have been fatal.
Mohammad’s parents were uncertain of the road ahead, until they were told about The Little Wings Foundation.
Two years ago Imtiaz Ahmad, Mohammad’s father, approached Dr Marc
Sinclair about his son. Dr Sinclair is the founder of The Little Wings
Foundation, a non-profit organisation that was created in 2007.

The organisation helps facilitate treatment for children with
conprivate part or acquired limb deformities. Since it began, the
foundation has helped fund surgeries for hundreds of children with the
hope of giving them an equal chance at a better life that every child
deserves.
“Private health care doesn’t cover conprivate part deformities here,”
Dr Sinclair said. “Having seen numerous cases of children born with
these conditions and unable to afford treatment put an urgency behind
creating this foundation.”
Marc Sinclair is a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon and works for the
Children’s Medical Centre in Dubai. Sinclair created and runs this
organisation solely in his spare time.
“We couldn’t do it without our network of doctors and sponsors.
Medcare Orthopaedic and Spinal Hospital has been so helpful in
Mohammad’s case,” he said.
On Saturday Mohammad had his third surgery in two years. Dr Hefti,
his doctor from his first surgery, flew in from Basel, Switzerland to
assist in his surgery. Dr Hefti is a paediatric orthopaedist that took
on Mohammad’s case as pro bono work.
Every surgery that is performed costs more than Dh100,000. During
each operation, implants are inserted called a ‘veptr’ — vertical
expandable prosthetic titanium ribs. These implants stretch the chest
and increase the volume which give the lungs more space to grow.
This isn’t the last of his operations. Every six to nine months he
will require a surgery that will extract the old implants and insert
larger ones to keep up with his growing body. The process is a long and
gruelling one, but eight-year-old Mohammad doesn’t show any signs of
fear or weakness.
“He wants to be a policeman when he grows up,” his mother said.
Rubina was overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude. “They have been so
caring. They’ve looked after him more than I could have imagined. We
couldn’t be more grateful for the help they’ve given us.” [GN]

Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today
arraigned three pastors; David Eshiet, Samson Ugbara and Adesanmi
Aderoju before an Ikeja High Court over an alleged N7.9 million fraud.The defendants were charged by the EFCC alongside their company, Prince and Zion International Service Ltd.They are facing a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and uttering.EFCC
counsel, Mr Ben Ubi alleged that the defendant had conspired to
fraudulently obtain the sums of N4 million and 25,000 US dollars (N3.9
million) from Angel Estate Residents Development Association in
Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos.Ubi alleged that the money was obtained on
Oct.27, 2011 under the pretext of helping the complainants source for a
100 million US dollars loan facility.He said the loan was being
sourced by the association to finance some community projects, adding
that the defendants had obtained the money as processing charges.The prosecutor further accused the defendants of forging various documents which were used in facilitating the fraud.He
said after collecting the money, the defendants failed to secure the
loan as promised which led the complainants to petition the EFCC.Ubi
said their alleged offences contravened Sections 1, (sub-sections
1,2,3) and 8 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences
Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.The defendants all pleaded not guilty to the charges.The
presiding judge, Justice Olabisi Akinlade ordered them to be remanded
in Kirikiri Maximum Security Prisons pending the hearing of their bail
applications fixed for 27 March, 2013.

Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today
arraigned three pastors; David Eshiet, Samson Ugbara and Adesanmi
Aderoju before an Ikeja High Court over an alleged N7.9 million fraud.The defendants were charged by the EFCC alongside their company, Prince and Zion International Service Ltd.They are facing a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and uttering.EFCC
counsel, Mr Ben Ubi alleged that the defendant had conspired to
fraudulently obtain the sums of N4 million and 25,000 US dollars (N3.9
million) from Angel Estate Residents Development Association in
Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos.Ubi alleged that the money was obtained on
Oct.27, 2011 under the pretext of helping the complainants source for a
100 million US dollars loan facility.He said the loan was being
sourced by the association to finance some community projects, adding
that the defendants had obtained the money as processing charges.The prosecutor further accused the defendants of forging various documents which were used in facilitating the fraud.He
said after collecting the money, the defendants failed to secure the
loan as promised which led the complainants to petition the EFCC.Ubi
said their alleged offences contravened Sections 1, (sub-sections
1,2,3) and 8 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences
Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.The defendants all pleaded not guilty to the charges.The
presiding judge, Justice Olabisi Akinlade ordered them to be remanded
in Kirikiri Maximum Security Prisons pending the hearing of their bail
applications fixed for 27 March, 2013.

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan’s pardons last week of four
individuals, including former Bayelsa State Governor Diepreye
Alamieyeseigha, continue to stir negative reaction.

US State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland described the pardons as a setback in the fight against corruption.

The
Council of Ogoni Professionals International, a Nigerian Diaspora group
in the United States, also disagreed with the pardons.

Council
member Anslem John-Miller said, instead of pardoning corrupt officials
and giving amnesty to militants, Jonathan should have called for a
judicial review of the trial and conviction of environmentalist Ken
Saro-Wiwa.

Saro-Wiwa and his Movement for the Survival of Ogoni
People (MOSOP) campaigned for greater control over oil and gas resources
on Ogoni land and against environmental devastation.

Saro-Wiwa
and eight other Ogonis were executed in 1995. John-Miller said he
contributed to the restoration of democracy in Nigeria.

“It’s not
that we are totally against individuals being pardoned by the federal
government, but we feel that individuals who have been convicted of a
certain crime, particularly corruption, should have been made to face
the consequences of their actions so as to serve as a deterrence to
others,” he said.

John-Miller said, by pardoning people like
Alamieyeseigha, the federal government is leaving an impression that it
is not serious about the country’s ongoing fight against corruption.

Doyin
Okupe, Jonathan’s senior special assistant on public affairs was quoted
as saying that Alamieyeseigha had been adequately punished for his
action, and that he had been playing a quiet role in helping to
stabilize the volatile Niger Delta region.

“You don’t just jump
up to pardon people. There should have been a judicial panel to review
the charges against the individual and then, on the basis of the
recommendation of the judicial panel, the charges can then be dismissed
or those individuals can be pardoned,” John-Miller said.

He said Jonathan should have called for a judicial review of the case of Saro-Wiwa and the eight other Ogonis.

“This
was a man (Saro-Wiwa) and other Ogonis who were killed unjustly by the
Abacha military regime. In fact, the issue of the Niger Delta is where
it is today because of the effort of Ken Saro-Wiwa. And it is an
indisputable fact, and undeniable fact, that Ken Saro-Wiwa remains a
prisoner of conscience until the day he died. Why is it that the
Jonathan Administration has refused to do anything about the case of Ken
Saro-Wiwa,” John-Miller said.

He said his group is not calling
for Jonathan to pardon Saro-Wiwa and the eighth other Ogonis because
they believe Saro-Wiwa and the others were unjustly convicted and
hanged.

“We cannot say he should be pardoned, and we not in the
position to beg the Jonathan Administration to do that because the
Jonathan Administration is there today because Ken Saro-Wiwa contributed
immensely to the restoration of democracy in Nigeria, and the Ogoni
have not benefited anything from the present administration, and it is
high time that the government takes proactive steps to address the Ogoni
Bill of Rights, he said.

The Ogoni Bill of Rights was presented
to the Nigerian government in 1990. It called for political autonomy to
participate in the affairs of the Republic as a distinct and separate
unit, provided that this autonomy guarantees political control of Ogoni
affairs by Ogoni people; the right to control and use a fair proportion
of Ogoni economic resources for Ogoni development; and, the right to
protect the Ogoni environment and ecology from further degradation.

For centuries, people have been turning to their beloved pooches for
affection and companionship. And for good reason — dogs are incredibly
perceptive and intelligent creatures. They may not understand the
nuances of everyday life, of course, but dogs have an incredible ability
to understand how their pet parents are feeling emotionally, and even
physically. Indeed, they don’t call them man’s best friend for nothing!

1. They Know if You’re Scared.

Heard something go bump in the night? Dogs can pick up on your fear,
and will usually mimic your behaviour. If you’d like to alleviate your
dog’s fear, you need to alleviate your own first! One exception, though,
would be the several breeds that have been, well, bred, to be guard
dogs.

2. They Notice Inequality.

Dogs can tell if you’re playing favorites. Let’s say you have two
dogs who both earned a treat for good behaviour. If you give a treat to
only one, the other will likely pick up on that, and believe she’s done
something wrong. They can even stop cooperating all together. Perhaps
there’s something us humans can learn from this!

3. They Know Whether or Not You’re Paying Attention.

Any pet parent with a sneaky pooch knows this one is totally true!
The science backs it up, too: studies have shown that dogs are perfectly
aware whether or not there are any people around, and will behave
accordingly. Even the most well-behaved dog on the block can’t risk
temptations when no humans are around to scold them.

4. They Can Tell if You’re Sick.

Dogs have long been prized — and put to work — for their keen sense
of smell. Their noses are thousands of times stronger than the average
human! Just as dogs are trained to sniff for drugs or explosives, dogs
have also been successfully trained to pick up on the extremely subtle
scents our bodies give off when we have cancer. Other dogs have been
trained to alert their pet parents when they’re about to have a seizure
minutes or even hours before an attack will happen– though it’s not
entirely clear if this skill is related to dog’s sense of smell.

5. They Know If You’re Sad.

Does your dog somehow know just what to do when you’re not feeling so
happy? You’re not imagining it — studies have shown that dogs can pick
up on your sadness and are more likely to approach you. One such study
placed two people, one crying and one quiet, in a room. Almost all of
the dogs approached the crying person, and most of those did so with
submissive body language — even if the crying person was a stranger to
them. Researchers, though, aren’t entirely clear on whether this means
that dogs fully understand empathy.

A large snake was killed inside the hostel at the NYSC Orientation camp in Ondo state yesterday.

According
to one of the corp members, in his words ‘I was sleeping on my bed in
the male block one when some some other corps members in the main hall
were shouting and telling me to jump out of the room.

I thought
they weren’t serious so I didn’t respond instantly, when I saw that the
shout was becoming more serious, I quickly wore my cloths and jumped
out.. Some of the boys then went inside the room and brought out the
snake dead after some minutes.

I was so scared.. I wonder what
our country is turning into.. The safety of corps members aren’t even
guaranteed.. The toilets are messed up.. We live like prisoners and
refugees.. God help us.’

Another corp member who pleaded
anonymity told NE ’government pays no attention to the safety and
welfare of students at all. Imagine a dangerous reptile under someone’s
bed’

The snake obviously swallowed a rat going by the picture
above, and just crawled into the one of the male dorms to relax. NE
learnt that the corp members immediately after killing the snake took
turns at snapping the snake and using it as dp on blackberry.

For some time now, there has being speculation that pretty actress
Monalisa Chinda and business man Lanre Nzeribe are an item, but it all
remained speculative rumor and couldn’t be substantiated as the pair
kept tight lipped about it until now.

Last week however, Lanre
and Monalisa damned all consequences and decided to make their romance
public, as they attended Uche Jumbo’s movie premiere together. Monalisa
and Lanre arrived at the premiere late and tried as much as possible to
avoid taking pictures together, entering the movie hall almost
immediately they arrived. They took their seats side by side in the hall
and after the movie, they hurriedly left the hall but once outside,
elected not to walk together.

While Monalisa was talking with a
friend, a reporter walked up to her and politely asked for a picture
since she did not appear on the red carpet. She was still contemplating,
when her friend abruptly said ‘No, she’s not taking pictures.’ It was
Lanre.

Tracing Lanre and Monalisa’s relationship, unconfirmed
reports have it that the two became friends while Monalisa was still
married to alleged ex woman-batterer husband Segun Dejo Richards, an
alleged philanderer as well. The reports have it that this amongst other
reasons, was why Dejo allegedly resorted to battering Monalisa and made
her life a living hell. Though this report remains unconfirmed, today,
Lanre and Monalisa are definitely more than just platonic friends.

Even
though the two have refused to confirm their public-secret
relationship, sources close to the situation indicate that Lanre and
Monalisa are very serious and are even considering tying the knot. How
this will play out remains a mystery, because Lanre Nzeribe as at press
time remains married, albeit, very few people know his wife.

Back
to the present; the two left the venue of the premiere together in his
Mercedes Benz E-Class with another couple-unidentified, perhaps on a
double date, to an unknown location.

President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday said he is struggling to build his house in his Otuoke village, Bayelsa State.

He said he might give out the house before he dies if he found out that his children are not ready to live in the village.

Jonathan spoke in Lagos at a fund-raiser for St. Stephens Anglican Deanery and Youth Development Centre, Otuoke.

He
said, “We are all mortal beings, we are all biological specimen so we
will all die but when we die, what will we be remembered for, what will
we leave behind?

“I use to tell people that even the house I am
struggling to build in the village, these days in this global age, how
am I sure that my children will even stay in my root. They want to go
to West Indies, they want to go to Latin America.

“So, I was even
joking with people that if I look at the behaviour of my children and
if I don’t see any of them that will patronise the village, I will
donate my house before I die.”

The President urged wealthy
Nigerians to make meaningful contributions to the development of poor
communities in the country in order to better the lives of the youth and
empower them to make useful contributions towards national development.

He
said the project for the St. Stephens Anglican Deanery and Youth
Development Centre was dear to him because he wanted to make sure that
the younger generation passed through a better system of education
different from the one he experienced while growing up.

“I feel
the only thing I can do is to make sure that from nursery school to
primary and secondary school, there should be a standard educational
facility and youth programme, so that it gives opportunity for the
younger ones to grow. Even if we die in the next 100 years, people will
remember that those before them have something for them,” he said.

Recently, the sultry actress, Mercy, who has been in the United State
of America for more than four months now was at the Nigerian Embassy,
Washington DC to pick a passport for her daughter in preparation for
their homecoming.

Having
received warm treatment there, Mrs. Okojie went on her timeline to
display her anxiety and how she was well treated obtaining the passport
but it’s a different ball game entirely with some of her fans who
started lampooning her.

The actress, who went to the embassy
in company of her close friend, also posted a picture of herself and her
friend in front of the high commission’s office with these message,
“Obama has nothing on me peeps, am proud to be a Nigerian, just left the
Nigerian Embassy in Washington DC. My God they were all so welcoming.
Am most honored.”

Shortly after she posted this, critics started ridiculing her; read what they posted:

*You are so proud, yet you run go yankee go born American citizen! na so you dey deceive yourself!

*Yes
because you are a Nigerian celebrity.....regular Naija person, don't
get special treatment, Naija embassy home and abroad have no customer
service, rude, nasty, and unorganized

*Mercy J is my girl any
time, but I get a fault with her for her saying that she is proud being
Nigeria. If so, why didn't she give birth to her baby in Nigeria?.Make
una think about this and if I may ask, how many Americans traveled to
Nigeria just to give birth? No long thing my brodas.

*You are so proud to be a Nigerian but you went to USA to give birth?

*WOW Lady, you don't know how to keep it real.

If
she's so proud of Nigeria why didn't she have her baby there, liar! Me
I’m not proud of the country so I had my baby in the UK. Mercy just be
honest

*Vking well said...she is proud to be Naija and went to
America to give birth...visit naija embassy in Rome, Italy you will
think twice to issue such statement of being proud of our embassies
abroad. Am a proud Nigerian though....

D'banj,
Faze, Sound Sultan,Tony Tetuila, Dotun Omoteye, Hycinth Idibia will
serve as 2face Idibia's groomsmen on his wedding day in Dubai this
weekend. His best man will be his childhood friend, Larry Gaga.

Annie's chief bridesmaid will be her very close friend and cousin, Maryann.

Advice For
women, it is almost a must to wear panties. While some go for loose
panties, a large number go for tight-fitting ones just to give a sex
appeal!

If only they knew that tight undergarments pose a danger
to one’s health. Some studies have shown that tight briefs in particular
are actually harmful to the human body. Tight panties? Dangerous to
health. How?First, tight briefs disrupt the lymphatic system, which
removes wastes and toxins from the entire body, and causes wastes and
toxins not to be properly removed from the body. This is dangerous!A
potential con of wearing tight underwear, especially for women, is the
increased likelihood of developing yeast infection or urinary tract
infection. How does this come about? Just wear tight panties and you
will discover that your honeypot does not breathe well. So, it is better
to choose a size that follows your body’s contours perfectly, but not
tight.

Tight panties are less than ideal for
sweat-inducing activities such as exercising or hiking. In addition to
fostering an unpleasant odour, trapping sweat near your skin increases
your risk of yeast infections and blistering along the pant seams.

When
riding on a stationary bike or sitting on a weight bench, for example,
it becomes difficult and risky when your panties glides off the surface
designated for sitting. Even structures not intended for athletics, such
as a plastic subway seat or a smooth park bench, become potential
hazard against the friction-lacking texture of tight undergarments.

The
other problem associated with women wearing tight panties is the
irritating effect of the tight material against the skin. When a woman
walks around all day wearing tight panties, the material rubs against
the urethra and outer honeypotl area creating areas of irritation and
even small tears. These irritated areas can also be set-ups for
infection. This can be a particular problem for women who are prone to
honeypotl or urinary tract infections.

According to health.com
honeypotl and urinary tract infections are not the only problem
associated with wearing the wrong size of pants, they can irritate
hemorrhoids and even cause anal lacerations. Even more risky is wearing
it in hot weather. Sweating combined with the close contact of the
material against the skin, creates the perfect environment for a
honeypotl yeast infection.

After removing your undergarments, do
you observe red marks? If so, chances are, your undergarments are too
tight for you, and really should be changed. Dump them out like last
year’s new clothes, and find undergarments, which will hug you, and fit
on properly instead of giving a tightening effect.

The less they
are worn the better, but if you cannot wean them completely from your
underwear drawer, at least wear them in moderation, bearing in mind that
a urinary tract or yeast infection is not very sexy.

This Is The Current State Of The Building Where
Frederick Lugard Signed The Amalgamation Of Northern and Southern
Nigeria on 1st January 1914, In Zungeru, Niger State?

dis building is meant to called Nigeria house

The
Current State Of The Building Where Frederick Lugard Signed The
Amalgamation Of Northern and Southern Nigeria on 1st January 1914, In
Zungeru, Niger State. Our history as a nation is bad and purulent!

And if you want to appreciate how senseless our Ogas at the top can
be, they are already preparing to celebrate what they call Centenary
something , when the birthplace of Nigeria is like a refuse
dump? does this make any sense to you, at all and they is money in this country, there don't want to spend it.

they want to give first lady Millions of niara to build a house let join hands together. this building is meant to renovate or rebrand the buildin so dat we show the sign of appreciation

This is Shocking!!!! The Picture went Viral on Facebook & on BBM
Yesterday.. The Man was Caught Red Handed Sleeping with a 1 Year Old
baby.

The Man who was Identified as Jackie Francis was Caught wiht a baby
while trying to Insert his Penis into the 1 year old baby, He was
Apprehended by the Police, He later Confessed further that he has been
doing this for the past 4 Months.

Life has been both rough and challenging for beautiful
Nollywood actress, Iyabo Ojo but she has managed to hold her head up in
spite of everything and she’s making progress. In a chat with Punch, the
single mother shares her experiences, the pain of leaving her marriage and her new lover.

How are you managing as a single mother?My daughter is an award-winning actress. She is going
to be 12 but she is not a full time actress. She is still a baby and I
try to restrict her acting so that she can concentrate more on her
studies. Once in a while, we allow her act and only when she is on
holidays. It has to be once in a while. When I started, it was a bit
stressful because my kids were quite young. I had to be a working mother
and business woman at the same time. I am someone who always strives
for perfection. I am a very organised person. I draw out my time-table. I
have a schedule of my day-to-day life so I am never caught unawares.
That is why I don’t work too much. If I have planned my month and a
sudden job comes up, I will not take it. I always have a schedule I
follow in life and it has always helped me. When I am working, I know
how to place my kids in the right place, sometimes with my mother.

When they were much younger, they used to go with me but because of
school, they stayed with my mother. I have some of my sisters that stay
around. Now, my kids have grown up because my boy is 14 years old and
the girl is 12 and they are both in secondary school. They take care of
themselves more now. Apart from that, I still try to spend time at home
more than I used to when they were younger because they need my
attention now. I need to be sure that they are studying. They are
becoming teenagers. Teenage pressure could be much on them so I have to
be the father and mother to them at all times. It was not easy initially
but as time goes on, you learn how to manage it. It becomes easy as
time goes on.

How is your relationship with your ex-husband, the father of your kids?
I relate with their father. I do not talk about it because I give
respect to my children, it is their privacy and they want to keep it
private. Like I said, we were not just compatible, I met him and in a
very short period of time, we got married. We really did not have much
time to date. I was 21 years old then. In less than three months, I was
pregnant and in less than six months, I was married to him. It was a
very short period of time. We basically got married because of the
pregnancy. We did not want to have the baby out of wedlock. We got
married and we later discovered that there was some part of him that I
did not like and there were certain things about me that he did not also
like. We were not friends and that was the disadvantage. He was not my
first, he was actually my third.

I feel apart with my first boyfriend. My second boyfriend, we did not
get intimate. So my ex was actually the second but my third boyfriend. I
was young, I had my first boyfriend when I was in SS3 and I was about
18 years old. Then we broke up and I had somebody else. We were more
like brothers and sisters in Christ so we really did not have any s*xual
relationship. Then, I met my ex-husband. He was the second man I was
intimate with when it came to a relationship. I was young and the kind
of life he wanted was to be married and still live the bachelor life
while I wanted him to be married and stay at home. That was were we
started having issues and problems but we are still friends. He still
communicates with his kids.

Do you regret getting married to him?
I do not regret leaving the marriage because I am better off. I regret
rushing into marriage, but I do not use the word ‘regret’ anymore. It
has become a lesson; I had to learn from that. Every disappointment is a
blessing. Even though I felt disappointed that I got married at a young
age and did not get to study the man I got married to and whose name I
bear now, I still profited from it by having two wonderful kids. It is
more than any other thing in life.

I vowed never to get married again
I said so back then when I was disappointed. When you are going into a
marriage with so much expectation, hoping that is where you will end
your life, you try all your best to make it work. If it does not work,
you begin to have problems…

Tell us about you new boyfriend
He is a very caring person. It was not easy for him. He was really after
me because when men come, I shut them off. I always put this defensive
mechanism up. He was very patient and came in a very soft manner. We
started as friends and we became lovers. His relationship with my kids
is wonderful. My kids love him. He is a very busy person but any little
time he has, he comes to see them and takes care of them. We have been
together for a while. I keep my relationship very private. I made it
public at a time and it was very stressful. When it is private, you
enjoy it more because there are no third parties. He understands the
nature of my job. He understands where I am coming from and I understand
his too.

If this A Wisconsin man ever needs to use a library, he’d have to go
to Mars, as he has been banned from ‘all libraries on the face of the
earth’ after being charged with misdemeanor counts of lewd behaviour and
disorderly conduct.

Tyree Carter was in court to answer the charges, and is accused of openly committing a s*xual act in the Racine Public Library.

An employee who was a witness told investigators that he was on the
second floor, “standing in the open, not trying to conceal the act”.
Police were called to the scene and when an officer approached him, he
was sat at a table reading a book. According to court records seen by
Racine Journal Times, Carter initially denied that he knew why the
police had been called. When the officer explained the situation, Carter
allegedly apologised and said it was his first time doing it in public.

Carter, who had been staying at the Homeless Assistance Leadership
Organization of Racine, was taken to Racine County Jail – and his bond
was set at $1,000. His order to “stay away from all libraries on the
face of the earth” was reportedly a condition of his bond.

If convicted of the charges, he could face up to $11,000 in fines, and a year in prison. [The Independent]

Even though she’s not been out of the news, Beyonce
has technically not been in the music scene (after releasing her fourth
solo album ’4′ and giving birth to her first child Blue Ivy).

Well, Mrs Carter is back and ready to
reclaim her throne as the queen of the game, she isn’t taking hostages
too, not with the release of her new single ‘Bow down’. Bey released the
single hours ago on her Tumblr account

The two part song (the latter part switches to ‘I been on’), produced by G.O.O.D Music producer Hit-Boy sounds warning to those who’ve been heavy in the scene since Queen Bey’s absence.

‘I know when you were little girls/you dreamt of being in my world/Don’t forget it, Don’t forget it, respect that, bow down b****hs‘, Bey sings over the syrupy instrumental.

All we can say is, dear Rihanna, Kelly Rowland, Keri Hilson and even you Nicki Minaj, watch your back!

Neglect, sickness and poverty are three common themes that echo through the riveting tales of their lives.
This unholy trinity, which dominates the lot of this class of
Nigerian actors, evokes the tripartite emotion of sympathy, hopelessness
and, ultimately, anger.
Indeed, for many a Nigerian actor, what you see is not always what you
get. On the screen, they are draped in colourful designers’ apparels.
They have access to posh cars.
They occupy palatial buildings. In reality, they live a contrasting
lifestyle, some of them barely surviving above the poverty line. This is
a common narrative in the lives of many Nollywood veterans.
In the last few years, the plights of many veterans have become
absymally precarious. Many of them died in penury. Others are now living
under grave conditions. The growing prevalence of their gloomy
denominator is giving observers of the entertainment industry concerns.
“It is really unfortunate that Nigerian actors have been left to die.
I don’t know why calamity has chosen to befall the film industry,”
lamented Chika Okpala popularly known as Zebrudaya.
Entertainment Express highlights 10 entertainment veterans whose plights fall under this bleak purview.

Ngozi Nwosu
She is fondly known as Peaceful Peace after her popular role as Madam
Peace in Fuji House of Commotion, a sitcom created by the versatile
Amaka Igwe of the Checkmate fame. But these days, peace is a relative
term and a strange word for the ailing veteran Nollywood actress. Ngozi
Nwosu now looks a shadow of her old buoyant self after being hit by a
strange ailment.
Last week, the Imo State-born actress moved to a London hospital where
she went for advance treatment for what was described a heart and kidney
ailment that has been ravaging her for months. The trip was made
possible by kind-hearted Nigerians who responded to a frantic appeal for
N6.5m funds with the Lagos State Government donating a lion share of
N4.5m and another N1m coming from MTN-sponsored Who Wants to be a
Millionaire game show.

Baba Sala
These days, death hoaxes about Pa Moses Olaiya (famously known as
Baba Sala) is becoming one too many. What is not clear is who wants the
Ilesha, Osun State-born multi-talented thespian dead.
There are those who believe that the 74-year-old actor who suffered
stroke some few years back is on the brink of a total breakdown as his
condition continues to grow worse. EE learnt that this veteran actor of
Yoruba classics such as Orun Mooru, Mosebolatan and Agba Man is now a
shadow of his old self.
Last year, the veteran actor and holder of MON national honour was
celebrated at a special ceremony organized by National Association of
Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP) in Lagos.
Olaiya who oversees a very large family hit a rough patch about two
decades ago when his film, Orun Mooru which he shot with a bank loan was
pirated. “It affected me seriously because we borrowed money to do the
film,” he recollected. “The practice then was to borrow money from banks
to do our films. The films were often done abroad, unlike today where
they use video. The money we used to borrow then was so huge that it
required heavy collateral. That was why my career almost took a dip,” he
reflected.

James Uche
“Today, we hear that artistes die here and there. It’s not because
they want to, but because they can’t afford to stay alive. If my leg is
finally amputated, it will be because of lack of money. Maybe, I should
just say it is my luck that this is happening. Maybe I stepped on
something but all I know is that I never offended anybody. I always like
being on my own.” This was how Prince James Uche captured his
predicament three years ago.
Not that there have been much changes since then as the talented actor
continues with his battle with ill-health. Last year, news spread far
and wide that the father of three was kicked out of his matrimonial home
by his wife who was frustrated with his unending troubles.The
48-year-old actor who rose to fame in the 2001 blockbuster, Odigbo is
still languishing in pains and crying for help.

David Offor (Clarus)
Among the new generation, the name David Offor or Clarus might not
strike a familiar chord. For lovers of that famous TV classic, The New
Masquerade, Clarus is not just well-known, he was one of the popular
characters that kept millions of viewers glued to their TV with his
antics and banters.
Today, life for Clarus is not the same again after he was hit several
years ago by a strange blindness. At the moment, the Enugu State-based
actor is on the list of Nollywood’s ‘endangered species.’
Offor who lamented recently about how he has been living in abject
poverty and neglect, implored well-meaning Nigerians to come to his aid
lest he goes the same way of some of the cast of the rested soap such as
Gringory who passed on last year after langushing in penury and a
protracted battle with stroke.

Ola Omonitan (Baba No Regret)
Among Yoruba movie enthusiasts, Ola Omonitan popularly called
Ajimajasan or Baba No Regret is no stranger. What many don’t know,
however, is why he has been out of circulation for such a long spell.
At 74, there may not be much left for Baba No Regret to prove after
putting so many years into the Yoruba theatre. He is a veteran of
several films and TV dramas including Omo Araye Le, Bata Wahala and
Ogunlaye, which ran on NTA Network from 1981 to 1983.
Ajimajasan would have been history if he had not gotten a timely
treatment for an ailment diagnosed as prostrate cancer. The Ilesha,
Osun State-born actor, who started acting in 1962, found a Good
Samaritan in Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Arisekola Alao, who
paid the bill of his three-month treatment in South Africa last year.
Narrating his experience recently, Ajimajasan revealed that the
situation drained him financially. “I wish I had developed my other
skill as a furniture maker before I ventured into acting. That is why I
advice younger artistes to have a Plan B,” he regretted.

Romanus Uchenna Amuta (Natty)
The cliché, “life is an irony” aptly captures the pathetic condition
of veteran actor, Romanus Uchenna Amuta famously known as Natty for his
role in the classic TV series, Village Headmaster.
In a movie industry where stereotyping is a common trend, Amuta is many
producers’ favourite for the role of a ‘Poor Man’ which is evident in
his numerous movie credits both on TV and in movies. In real life,
Amuta barely lived above his stereotype character.
His case was worsened when he suffered a debilitating stroke in 2006.
“Even the best clothes in my wardrobe were bought in 1984 when I made
some reasonable money…” he recently recounted.
A tearful Amuta confessed unashamedly: “I’m so so so so poor that I
could not even get a decent treatment for the stroke ailment that befell
me when in its early days. Now that it is even worse, there is no money
to even enjoy myself.” He added dryly, “Even if na small enjoyment
before I quench like my mama wey die a long time ago.”
According to a source, Amuta who is now confined to his dingy
three-bedroom flat on 7, Umuchi Nwoko Street, near the popular Agbani
Road, Enugu State, now cuts the picture of a 90-year-old owing to his
partial paralysis.
“I have reached out to my friends but it appears they have abandoned me
to die. As for my relatives, they have tried but they can’t kill
themselves. My children have also done their best for me,” lamented the
Enugu State-born thespian.Majek Fashek
After several rescue attempts by his friends and a few other
admirers, Majek Fashek, veteran reggae sensation has defied all efforts
to bring him back to his best. The Rainmaker as Majek is popularly known
wandered on the streets of New York for several years but he returned
to the country two years ago to re-establish his music career.
Several years ago, a group of his bosom friends made up of former
members of the rested reggae band known Ja’stix rallied several
personalities including Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to
rehabilitate the reggae icon. But that effort was thwarted when he
slipped out of the country without notice according to one of the
arrowheads of that mission, Pastor Amos McRoy.
The latest effort by a burgeoning record label, A-Plus Global suffered a
setback when the Little Patience crooner suddenly went missing.
Days later, another disturbing news emanated that the self-styled
Prisoner of Conscience was chained at his Gowon Estate, Egbeda home over
deteriorating mental health identified as schizophrenia. “We have given
up on Majek, his situation is complex and defies solution,” regretted a
source.Emma Edokpayi
Ask veteran thespian, Elder Emma Edokpayi, life is no longer about
milestones but moments. One of such life-changing moments albeit a sad
one, occurred in 2004 when he suffered a devastating stroke.
For the veteran actor of many flicks and producer of the classic soap,
Hotel De Jordan, it was as if life had come to an end. It was obvious
that things will never be the same again following the partial paralysis
which the father of four suffered as a result of the ailment.
Unsurprisingly, movie roles dried up for him as producers and directors
ignore him for more physically fit actors.
Edokpayi was at a vulnerable moment in his life. However, not everyone
abandoned the Edo State-born. Four years later, luck smiled on the actor
when amiable life Patron of Movie Reporters Guild of Nigerian (MORGON),
Andrien Gbinigie made a commitment to him of a yearly financial
endowment of N400,000.
Since his ordeal, Edokpayi’s routine has been restricted to his Akute, Ogun State home where he still struggles to survive.
Abdul-Salam Sanyaolu
(Charles Olumo “Agbako”)
But for a lot of grit and some luck, 85-year-old Alhaji Abdul-Salam
Sanyaolu formerly known as Charles Olumo was a few miles away from
suicide at the height of his ordeal with a stroke. What’s more, life for
the veteran Yoruba actor took a turn for the worse as poverty was added
to his hydra-headed predicament.
Sanyaolu whose screen name was Agbako lamented: “I suffered stroke, my
only bus got burnt and every member of my family deserted me. To
survive, I sold my only house just for N300,000 which I used to foot my
medical bill,” he lamented.
Luckily for the star of several Yoruba classics, his sad ordeal caught
the attention of the benevolent leader of Synagogue Church of All Nation
(SCOAN) in 2010. “A friend of mine took me to the Synagogue Church of
All Nation (SCOAN) where I was given N500,000. God I thank you because I
thought I would die in my abject poverty.”Agbako remembered. These
days, Agbako who can be found in his home in Ejigbo, a Lagos suburb is
far from being well.

Victor Eze (Alika)
“Everybody has been avoiding me. Not even the president and members
of my association, the Screen Writers Guild of Nigeria (SWGN) where I
was the secretary or the Association of Movie Producers (AMP) where I
was actively involved gave me any attention,” lamented gifted comedian,
Victor Eze who is currently nursing a stroke.
That was in 2011. At the moment, not much has changed for the talented
actor who brought smiles to the face of many Nigerians with his popular
comic role as Alika in the sitcom, Fuji House of Commotion. Things are
definitely not the same for Eze who has been hibernating at his Ikorodu,
Lagos home

P-Square
have been in Malawi for the last couple of days. Their performance was
intially postponed and it finally held last night. Here are some photos
from their performance, that saw them entertain a massive crowd out
there. P-Square keep making us proud

The Imo-born actor, who before his
disappearance from the screen was enmeshed in series of controversies
that even led to rumours of insanity, is back from oblivion.

The actor tells NET in a telephone conversation of how he had to take time off to rebrand, and rediscover himself.

The now born-again actor/rapper said, ‘When
it was clear that the world had rejected me, I had to go back to
Christ. Whatever has happened to me all through these years, happened
for a reason. If these things had not happened, I would not have
discovered how much Christ loves me and how much I should have held onto
him’.

El Cream, as he was popularly called within the rap circles, has just released a brand new music video for his new single Go Under. ‘The new single is coming off my forthcoming album, ‘Return of the Don’ that will be dropping anytime soon’, he tells us.

Ernest Asuzu began his acting career in the late 90s film Another Campus Queen. He also featured in a number of Nollywood flicks, most notably the highly acclaimed and successful, Rituals by Kenneth Nnebue.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, 13
March, 2013 arraigned Akinluyi Akintunde (a.k.a Akin Cindy) before
Justice Bolaji Yusuf of the Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan on a
two count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and
possession of documents containing false pretence contrary to Sections
6, 8(b) and 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related
Offences Act No. 14 0f 2006.

Akintunde allegedly obtained the sum of $450.00(Four Hundred and
Fifty USD) from one Robert Jackson via Western Union Money Transfer and
another $6,450,000.00 (Six million, Four Hundred and Forty UDS) through
false documents.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge. Count two of the charge reads:
“Akinluyi Akintunde ( a.k.a Akin Cindy) on or about the 12th October,
2011 at Ogbomosho within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with
intent to defraud had in your possession documents containing false
pretences, to with an air travelling regulation purportedly issued by
the Ministry of Aviation of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a drug free
certificate for the sum of $5,000,000.00( Five Million United States
Dollars) in favour of one Stan Wills Chevron Oil & Gas Company
purportedly issued by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, two
revenue collector’s statement for the sum of $1,450,000.00 ( One
Million, Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States Dollars)
purportedly issued by the Federal Inland Revenue Service of Nigeria in
favour of
one Stanley Woodley and Stan Wils, three contract award certificates
purportedly issued by Chevron Oil & Gas plc in favour of Frank
David, Stanley Wils and Stanley Dreckley and draft e- mails.

“That you, Akinluyi Akintunde sometime between January 2011 and
December 2011 at Ogbomosho within the jurisdiction of this honourable
court with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of $450.00 from Robert
Jackson , via Western Union Money Transfer under the false pretence that
you were a lady which representation you knew to be false”.

Prosecution counsel, Gbolahan K. Latona asked the court for a trial
date and to remand the suspect in prison custody. However, defense
counsel, Olusegun Jaiyeola, prayed the court to grant his client bail,
stressing that his offences are bailable.
.
Justice Yusuf however remanded the accused person in prison and
adjourned the matter till March 20, 2013 for hearing of bail
applications.